gearwe

See also: geare

Old English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈjæ͜ɑr.we/, [ˈjæ͜ɑrˠ.we]

Etymology 1

From Proto-West Germanic *garwā, perhaps derived from *garu (“prepared, ready (of food”)), as the plant was used medicinally for digestion.

Alternative forms

• ġearuuae — early

Noun

ġearwe f

1. yarrow

Declension

Weak:

	singular	plural
nominative	ġearwe	ġearwan
accusative	ġearwan	ġearwan
genitive	ġearwan	ġearwena
dative	ġearwan	ġearwum

Descendants

• Middle English: yarwe, ȝarewe, ȝarow, ȝarowe, ȝarwe, ȝorow, yare, yarewe, yarou, yarow, yarowe
  • English: yarrow; >? yarr
  • >? Scots: yarr

Etymology 2

Related to gearu (“ready, able”); both from Proto-Germanic *garwaz (“prepared”). See also Old Norse gǫrr (“accomplished, skilled”).

Alternative forms

• ġeare

Adverb

ġearwe (comparative ġearwor, superlative ġearwost or ġearwast)

1. entirely, well, enough
   • 10th century, The Wanderer:

     Ne sċeal nō tō hātheort, · ne tō hrædwyrde,
     ne tō wāc wiga, · ne tō wanhȳdiġ,
     ne tō forht, ne tō fæġen, · ne tō feohġīfre,
     ne nǣfre ġielpes tō ġeorn, · ǣr hē ġeare cunne.

     Should not be too wrathful, nor too hasty in words,
     nor too weak warrior, nor too careless,
     nor too fearful, nor too joyful, nor too eager for money,
     nor ever too eager of pride, before he would know enough.

2. (with verbs of knowing) certainly, clearly
   • 10th century, The Wanderer:

     Beorn sċeal ġebīdan, · þonne hē bēot spriceð,
     oþþæt collenferð · cunne ġearwe
     hwider hreþra ġehyġd · hweorfan wille.

     Man must pause when he tells a promise
     until bold spirit would know clearly
     where thought of hearts would turn.

3. ready
   • c. 992, Ælfric, "The Nativity of St. Andrew the Apostle"

     Beoð swȳðor ġearwe to ðam þæt ge ðurh hwilwendlice gedreccednysse becumon to ðam ecum gefean, þær ge symle blissiað, blowende and mid Criste rixigende.

     Be rather ready, that through transitory tribulation ye may come to the eternal joy, where ye will ever rejoice, blooming and reigning with Christ.

4. already
   • c. 992, Ælfric, "The Nativity of St. Andrew the Apostle"

     Hwæt ða, Egeas him ondred ða menigu, and behét þæt hé wolde hine alysan, swa swa hí gewilnodon, and eode forð mid. Þa befrán se apostol, mid þam ðe he hine geseah, "Hwæt nu, Egeas, hwí come ðu to us? Gif ðu wylt gelyfan gyt on ðone Hælend, þe bið gemiltsod, swa swa ic ðe behét. Gif ðu to ði come þæt þu me alyse, nelle ic beon alysed lybbende heonon. Nu ic ġeare geseo minne soðan Cyning; ic stande on his gesihðe to him me gebiddende. Ðin me ofhrywð, and þinre yrmðe, forðan ðe þín andbidað þæt éce forwyrd. Efst nu, earming, þa hwíle ðe ðu ænig ðing miht, ðe-læs ðe ðu wille þonne ðe forwyrned bið."

     Hereupon Ægeas feared the multitude, and promised that he would release him as they desired, and went forth with them. Then the apostle, when he saw them, asked, "How now, Ægeas, why comest thou to us? If thou wilt yet believe in Jesus, thou shalt have mercy, as I promised thee. If thou comest to release me, I will not be released hence living. Now I already see my true King; I stand in his sight praying to him. For thee and thy misery I grieve, for eternal perdition awaits thee. Hasten now, wretch, while thou canst do anything, lest thou desire when it is forbidden thee."

Etymology 3

Of North Germanic origin, probably Old Norse gervi.

Noun

ġearwe f pl

1. gear, clothing, attire, arms, armour

Declension

Strong i-stem:

	singular	plural
nominative	—	ġearwe
accusative	—	ġearwe
genitive	—	ġearwa
dative	—	ġearwum

Descendants

• English: gear (influenced by Old Norse gervi)

References

• (yarrow): Joseph Bosworth and T. Northcote Toller (1898) “gearwe”, in An Anglo-Saxon Dictionary‎^[1], 2nd edition, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
• (adverb): Joseph Bosworth and T. Northcote Toller (1898) “gearwe”, in An Anglo-Saxon Dictionary‎^[2], 2nd edition, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
• (gear): Joseph Bosworth and T. Northcote Toller (1898) “gearwe”, in An Anglo-Saxon Dictionary‎^[3], 2nd edition, Oxford: Oxford University Press.